Why Mark Melancon is still with the PawSox

Saturday

May 12, 2012 at 10:35 PM

BOSTON -- Mark Melancon still has to wait his turn.

Brian MacPherson Journal Sports Writer brianmacp

BOSTON -- Mark Melancon still has to wait his turn.

The reliever acquired from the Houston Astros in December has yet to allow a run in 10 appearances at Triple-A Pawtucket, striking out 18 without issuing a walk. He's pitched much more like he did when he was the Astros' closer last season than when he was getting shelled in Detroit at the start of this season for the Red Sox.

"He knew there was a little bit of a confidence factor and there was a pitch feel that he really didn't have," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "His ball wasn't doing what he wanted it to do. He knew he had to pitch to do that, and it seems like he's worked it out very nicely."

But with Red Sox relievers having compiled a 1.18 ERA in 50 1/3 innings pitched in the month of May, there just hasn't been reason to go get Melancon.

Scott Atchison, Rich Hill and Andrew Miller all have not allowed a run in the month of May. Matt Albers hadn't been charged with a run in 9 2/3 innings before the home run he allowed to Kansas City's Billy Butler on Tuesday. Vicente Padilla has a 1.17 ERA since the meltdown against the Yankees in late April, including a scoreless inning on Saturday.

There just isn't a natural countermove to clear space for Melancon.

"It's not like we don't want him here," Valentine said. "It's not like he hasn't done what he was supposed to do to do down there. ...